Polymer composition for use in a camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11086200-B2
Application number	US-202016813821-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 20, 2019
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A camera module comprising a polymer composition that includes a polymer matrix containing a liquid crystalline polymer and a mineral filler is provided. The liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more of the polymer. Further, the polymer composition exhibits a melt viscosity of from about 30 to about 400 Pa-s, as determined at a shear rate of 400 seconds−1 and at a temperature 15° C. higher than the melting temperature of the composition in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443:2005.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera module comprising a polymer composition that includes a polymer matrix containing a liquid crystalline polymer and a mineral filler, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more of the polymer, and further wherein the polymer composition exhibits a melt viscosity of from about 30 to about 400 Pa-s, as determined at a shear rate of 400 seconds −1 and at a temperature 15° C. higher than the melting temperature of the composition in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443:2005.

2. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a flexural modulus of about 7,000 MPa or more as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 178:2010 at 23° C.

3. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a Rockwell surface hardness of about 25 or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D785-08 (Scale M).

4. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a Charpy unnotched impact strength of about 2 kJ/m 2 as determined at 23° C. according to ISO Test No. 179-1:2010.

5. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a tensile strength of from about 20 to about 500 MPa, a tensile break strain of about 0.5% or more, and/or a tensile modulus of from about 5,000 MPa to about 30,000 MPa, as determined in accordance with ISO Test No, 527:2012.

6. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dynamic coefficient of friction of about 1.0 or less and/or a wear depth of about 500 micrometers or less, as determined in accordance with VDA 230-206:2007.

7. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix constitutes from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the polymer composition.

8. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a melting temperature of about 200° C. or more.

9. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains one or more repeating units derived from a hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid repeating units constitute about 50 mol. % or more of the polymer.

10. The camera module of claim 9 , wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-hydroxy-2-napthoic acid, or a combination thereof.

11. The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in an amount of from about 50 mol. % to about 90 mol. % of the polymer and contains repeating units derived from 6-hydroxy-2-napthoic acid in amount of from about 10 mol. % to about 50 mol. % of the polymer.

12. The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystalline polymer further contains repeating units derived from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, hydroquinone, 4,4′-biphenol, acetaminophen, 4-aminophenol, or a combination thereof.

13. The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the polymer composition further comprises a semi-crystalline polyester that includes poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate), poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-butylene 2,6-naphthalate), poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), a derivative of any of the foregoing, or a combination thereof.

14. The camera module of claim 13 , wherein liquid crystalline polymers constitute from about 15 wt. % to about 85 wt. % of the polymer composition and semi-crystalline polyesters constitute from about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the polymer composition.

15. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein mineral fillers constitute from about 20 to about 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polymer matrix.

16. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the mineral filler has a hardness value of about 2.0 or more based on the Mohs hardness scale.

17. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the mineral filler contains mineral particles, mineral fibers, or a combination thereof.

18. The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the mineral particles have a median diameter of from about 0.5 to about 20 micrometers.

19. The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the mineral particles contain barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, silica, or a combination thereof.

20. The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the mineral particles are flaked-shaped particles having an aspect ratio of about 4 or more.

21. The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the mineral particles include mica.

22. The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the mineral fibers include wollastonite fibers.

23. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition contains a blend of mineral particles and mineral fibers, wherein mineral fibers constitute about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the polymer composition and mineral particles constitute from about 2 wt,% to about 50 wt. % of the polymer composition.

24. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition is generally free of glass fibers.

25. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition contains an impact modifier.

26. The camera module of claim 25 , wherein the impact modifier includes an olefin polymer.

27. The camera module of claim 25 , wherein the olefin polymer is a copolymer that contains a (meth)acrylic monomeric unit.

28. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition contains an antistatic filler.

29. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition contains a tribological formulation, lubricant, thermally conductive filler, pigment, antioxidant, stabilizer, surfactant, wax, flame retardant, anti-drip additive, nucleating agent, or a combination thereof.

30. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the camera module comprises:
a housing within which a lens module is positioned that contains one or more lenses; and
optionally, an actuator assembly that is configured to drive the lens module in an optical axis direction;
wherein at least a portion of the housing, lens module, actuator assembly, or a combination thereof contains the polymer composition.

31. The camera module of claim 30 , wherein the actuator assembly optionally includes a guide unit that is positioned between the housing and the lens module, wherein the guide unit includes a spring, ball bearing, electrostatic force generator, hydraulic force generator, or a combination thereof.

32. The camera module of claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of the guide unit contains the polymer composition.

33. The camera module of claim 31 , wherein the guide unit contains a ball bearing.

34. The camera module of claim 33 , wherein the ball bearing has an average size of about 800 micrometers or less.

35. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein polymer composition exhibits a dent of about 50 micrometers or less when contacted with a metal ball having a diameter of 1.5 mm and weight of 75 grams that is dropped from a height of 15 centimeters into contact with the polymer composition.

36. An electronic device comprising the camera module of claim 1 .

37. The electronic device

Assignees

• Ticona Llc

Inventors

• Kim Young Shin

Classifications

• C09K19/3809 Primary

  Polyesters; Polyester derivatives, e.g. polyamides · CPC title

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• G03B2205/0053

  Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element · CPC title